Dubs will play on Sunday

Fitzsimons hearing to take place this week

Appeal: Michael Fitzsimons of Dublin leaves the pitch after receiving a red card during the Allianz Football League match against Mayo

Dublin still hope to have Mick Fitzsimons available for Sunday's refixed League clash with Kerry in Croke Park.

The GAA's CCCC yesterday confirmed dates and times of the rescheduled round of football and hurling fixtures that were called off last weekend because of the adverse weather conditions.

Originally scheduled for Croke Park last Saturday night, the game will now go ahead on Sunday at 4pm instead of its usual Saturday night slot.

With the Ireland v Scotland Six Nations rugby match on in Dublin on Saturday at 2.30pm and a 'Rally for Life' also due to take place in the city centre at 2pm, it is understood that the Gardaí prefer that the game is pushed back a further day, rather than stretching resources to cover a Saturday night Croke Park fixture.

The GAA have taken their wish into account and switched the match to Sunday.

Fitzsimons, who was sent off on a straight red card towards the end of Dublin's most recent League victory over Mayo in Castlebar, was subsequently issued with the mandatory one-match ban.

Dublin are eager to appeal the sanction, however, believing the Cuala man's attempted block on Aidan O'Shea to be clumsy as opposed to 'dangerous', as stipulated by referee Paddy Neilan in his report.

Fitzsimons's hearing was scheduled for last week but never took place due to the heavy snowfall nationwide.

If the CHC decide to uphold the ban, Dublin could still bring their case to the Central Appeals Committee.

Otherwise, Cian O'Sullivan could be in line for his first start of the year while Philly McMahon is another contender for selection having played no part in Castlebar.

Dublin GAA have confirmed that tickets already purchased will be valid for Sunday's re-fixture.

Otherwise, refunds will be issued once tickets are returned to the point of purchase prior to re-fixed game.

The game will be the first to be screened live on Eir on a Sunday afternoon.

The satellite channel have rights to Saturday night League games in both football and hurling and as the Dublin v Kerry match was one of their original picks, they have retained the rights to provide live TV coverage.

Precarious

Rights to Sunday afternoon games are held exclusively by TG4, although they do not have any live game scheduled for the same throw-in time as Dublin v Kerry.

The Dublin hurlers, meanwhile, have been issued a 2.30pm throw-in time for their clash with Laois in Portlaoise. As the hurling League is down to its final round of games in each division, all matches are required to start at the same time.

A victory for Dublin would put them into a League quarter-final against the county which finishes top of Division 1A.

Wexford, Clare, Tipperary and Kilkenny form their possible list of opponents.

A defeat, however, would leave Dublin in the precarious situation of having to play-off against Antrim to stay in Division 1B.

That game would be played over the weekend of March 17/18 at a neutral venue.

The GAA have also confirmed that the Division 1 hurling final will now take place on March 31st, the day before the Division 1 football final in Croke Park.

The competition's quarter finals will now be played on March 17/18 with the semi-finals fixed for March 24/25.